Wine Camp

MSWS Uptown

Every Other Thursday

5-7 pm

Join us for this series of special weekly wine tastings! Wine Camp is held every other Thursday at our Uptown Shop. These educational tastings will be more in depth and more focused than our regular tastings and giving us a chance talk and learn more about the wines we are drinking. The Uptown shop offers plenty of parking, a large tasting bar, and lots of space to move around (archery, anyone?) We’re really looking forward to these and hope to see you there. Best of all, our summer camp is free!

Camp Ten: 11/6

Rocking in the Friuli World

Friuli-Venezia Giulia lies on the rolling plain of Italy’s northeastern corner that borders Austria and Slovenia. Its wines are comparable in quality to those of Tuscany and Piedmont, home of Italy’s best wines. But Friuli’s wines are mostly white, although there are many terrific reds. The main white grapes of the region are Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, and Friuliano. The main reds are Merlot and the two Cabernets. Unique local grapes are Friuliano and Ribolla Gialla for white, and Refosco for red. Friulian wines are generally lush and full on the palate, with smooth finishes.

Friuli whites are rich and creamy expressions with fragrant layers of stone and passion fruits, honeysuckle and drying mineral tones. They are complex because the region they occupy is so multifaceted. Friuli remains a hotbed of white wine innovation. Late harvest fruit, extended macerations, contact with the lees and oak aging (both French and Slovenian) help reinforce creamy density and rich texture. These practices also bring out the wine’s natural acidity and delicate mineral nuances. Another thing that distinguishes Friuli is that most of its whites are mono-variety. “We follow an Austro-Hungarian or Anglo-Saxon tradition of winemaking in which we name our wines after the variety: Friulano, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, etc.,” says Alvaro Pecorari of Lis Neris (pictured left with his wife Lorena and daughter Federica). “In the Latin tradition, wines are named after a place like Chianti, Valpolicella or Barolo.”

Camp Eight: 10/9

California Dreamin’

Birichino, Malvasia

Hawley, Chardonnay

Force of Nature, Zinfandel

Hawley, Pinot Noir

Camp Seven: 9/24

“My Heart Will Go Oregon” (Mostly Willamette, Dammit.)

Oregon is known for Pinot Noir, and to a lesser extent Pinot Gris, but there are many other exciting wines. We will taste a broad range of wines, both the Pinots, of course, along with Gewurztraminer, Tempranillo, Syrah, and Chardonnay. Stay tuned for a complete list.

Wine by Joe, Pinot Gris – 12.99 (Dundee)

Coeur de Terre, Pinot Gris 2013 – $19.99 (McMinniville)

Montinore, Gewurztraminer – $16.99 (Forest Grove)

Emmerson, Pinot Noir – $19.99 (Monmouth)

Elk Cove, Pinot Noir – $32.99 (Gaston)

Wildaire, Tempranillo – $19.99 (Rogue Valley)

Camp Six: 9/18

The New Face of New Zealand

New Zealand is more than just Sauvignon Blanc, incredible landscapes, and Hobbits. We will taste Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay, Gruner Veltliner(!), Merlot-Malbec, & Riesling as well as the prince–Sauvignon Blanc.